Can someone tell me a 7am - 3pm shift will be okay.

[LoraJ]

I am NOT a morning person. My natural body clock is 10am - 2am. Even when I work 9a - 5pm I am dragging.

For the last 11 years, I have worked 2 weeks 9am - 5pm and then 2 weeks 5pm -1am.

Now they suddenly want us to do 4 weeks 7am - 3pm and then 2 weeks 4am - 12pm and then 2 weeks 5pm - 1am. I have been trying to fight it down to just 2 weeks 7am and maybe compromise with an 8am - 4pm shift. This rotation is just with 4 of us. Management hasn't even talked to us about how we feel about it.

I am the only one of the 4 who doesn't want to do a 7am shft. I said it is one thing if it were my shift ALL THE TIME, but it is going to be very difficult to adjust from going to bed at 3am one week and then getting up at 5am the next.

I was actually supposed to be on a 9am - 5pm shift next week but they just sent me an email that I need to be in at 7am. I had emailed my boss trying last week trying to get the compromise shift of 8am but she never responded.

So, I sent them an emailing saying that I will be on the evening shft next week, switching shifts with my co-worker who wants to work at 7am.

I don't want to be on nights forever either. But I think I may continue to switch with people until our transition is complete and things are more stable. Hopefully then they will see there is no need for 2 people in at 7am. I also plan on getting all of the work done at night to show there really isn't the need.

I actually like working nights in the summer. I can relax out on my roof deck all day.

I think I can live with that shift once every 8 weeks or so, I just don't know how I will function.

Please tell me it isn't as bad as I think it will be.

 

[Crankyshank]

It actually really isn't too bad. I'm also not a morning person at all and function best at night. I had to work that shift for a while and found I got used to it fairly quickly and was able to stay up late.
I either took a 45min nap at lunch time or I took one when I got home. I was refreshed and totally able to function

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I worked that shift for years and I LOVED it!! I missed the traffic both ways and still has some daytime left once I got off work. I am a morning person though.

 

[cynsaun]

I would have a much easier time working 7am to 3pm than I would 4am to noon!

I agree with Lindsay, you would miss traffic both ways, and you would have at least two hours left in the day to run errands before everyone else is off, too.

Good luck!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

When I worked 7-3, I had about a 35-40 minute commute. For what it's worth, I had to travel from Cleveland to downtown Chattanooga. It is VERY consgested from 7-9 and 4-6. I was THRILLED to have this shift

 

[scrump]

I had that shift for a year, and I loved it! You miss the traffic both ways, and I love being having time to still get stuff done and missing the after work crowds for everything, too!

 

[Beth76]

I am sooooo not a morning person and I did like my 7-3 shift. It was nice to home by 3:30. Although, I did enjoy my 10-6 shift better.

 

[LoraJ]

Actually, while my traffic will be good at 7am, I have found it to be AWFUL at 3pm. Worse than the 9am traffic. I don't know why. There always seems to be more trucks out on the road and construction going on.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I'll trade, I have to work 10pm-8am Thursdays, 11pm-9am Friday-Sat and 10pm-8am Sundays... ouch! I never thought I would work overnights.

 

[LoraJ]

I'll trade, I have to work 10pm-8am Thursdays, 11pm-9am Friday-Sat and 10pm-8am Sundays... ouch! I never thought I would work overnights.

I'll pass! Ouch is right. Lol!
When we had to re-interview for our jobs, I was told no overnights, we'll see though. We were talking about doing a 4 day work week though.

 

[helenabear]

I am so not a morning person, but for the last 5 1/2 years I was working the 7-4 shift at my job. I honestly LOVED it!!!! The traffic in the morning and after work was so much less than at the regular times, and I always got out in time to hit the bank or the like if needed. It's nice to go in early because it usually is more "quiet" for me then anyway.

 

[minniecarousel]

I think it's barbaric that companies make people work a different shift every few weeks (even every few months!). I would think that it's hard on your body(?) Could even be tough for childcare.

 

[mommytotwo]

My husband is not a morning person and he doesn't have a set schedule-they make him work mornings and nights, but once you get used to too it, then it will be fine. Especially if you have a set 7-3 schedule. You can get up early in the morning, go to work, come home for dinner, and just have an early nights sleep.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

I do 10 hour shifts...either 6am till 4pm, 3pm till 1am and sometimes 10am till 8pm(or 9am till 7pm)....I really prefer the am shift...at least with the am shift I still have my evenings free. I've gotten so used to getting up at 5am, I really hate the swing shifts-you can't do anything in the morning or the evening....once you do the 7am till 3pm shifts...I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

 

[LoraJ]

I think it's barbaric that companies make people work a different shift every few weeks (even every few months!). I would think that it's hard on your body(?) Could even be tough for childcare.

It can be very hard on my body. Swinging back and forth from starting at 5pm to starting at 9am was tough enough. Now starting at 7am is going to be even tougher. Sorry for the TMI, but me and my female co-workers have to be on BCP's just to keep us regulated. We all tend to get sick more often too.

If I did 7am all the time it wouldn't be so bad. But the switching around I really worry about. Hopefully, once things settle down, that shift will come around only once every 8 weeks and I won't have to whine about it as much.

And to Beth, I think 10a-6pm is my absoulte favorite shift. I was pushing for that one, but not happening.

 

[Pin Wizard]

That sounds like a short day! Someone in our office works 7-4. I have to work 8-5. She's on vacation this week so I've been going in at 7 with the understanding I'd be leaving at 4 when she's in during the late afternoons. Uh...hasn't happened yet that I've left early! Been working 7-5 this week. I'm pooped! I'm leaving early tomorrow. Woooo hoooo!!!

Your hours sound GREAT! I'd love them!

 

[swilphil]

I'd like 7 am-3 pm, but I'm a morning person. The hard part for anyone is having to change every couple of weeks. Is there anyway to get around that? Could you work the same shift for 4 to 6 weeks and then change?

 

[LoraJ]

I'd like 7 am-3 pm, but I'm a morning person. The hard part for anyone is having to change every couple of weeks. Is there anyway to get around that? Could you work the same shift for 4 to 6 weeks and then change?

The problem is, no one wants to be on night shift for that long of a time. I guess we'll deal with it somehow.

I think the reason why I am most upset about this is that I am the only one who doesn't want to work 7a - 3pm and they know it. When they made the decision to have two shifts at 7a - 3pm they did it without discussing it with me. I heard about it from a peer and when I approached the scheduling department about it they told me to wait for my boss to get back in. I emailed her about my concerns, and never heard back. And this shift wasn't supposed to start for another 2 weeks so I thought I would have time to compromise.

I got an email yesterday saying I was on the second 7a - 3p shift next week when I was supposed to be 9a - 5p. So I am a bit peeved about that. I switched shifts with someone for the week so I will be on nights next week.

When we re-interviewed for our jobs, they said they wanted us to be flexible. I thought I already was flexible switching back and forth from nights to days and then also working Sundays on my own time.

I'll get over it, and I will deal, but I just want to whine about it for now.

 

[C.Ann]

I think it's barbaric that companies make people work a different shift every few weeks (even every few months!). I would think that it's hard on your body(?) Could even be tough for childcare.

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Actually there have been medical studies done that show this type of flip-flop work/sleep pattern is detrimental to ones health..

 

[LoraJ]

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Actually there have been medical studies done that show this type of flip-flop work/sleep pattern is detrimental to ones health..

Yup!
While I adjusted to my old shift, I worry about this because the shift change is more extreme. And my co-workers tell me I can't go whining about that it is bad for my health to my boss because she won't want to hear it and that would be the wrong approach.